Electrical winding device for clock-movements.



E. M. THOMPSON.

ELECTRICAL WINDING DEVICE FOR CLOCK MOVEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I3, 19x4.

1 ,1 9 1,9 1 4. Patented Jul 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. M. THOMPSON.

ELECTRICAL WINDING DEVICE FOR CLOCK MOVEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. I9I4.

Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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EDWARD M. THOMPSON, 0F BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL WINDING DEVICE FOR CLOCK-MOVEMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed January 13, 1914. Serial No. 811,824.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. THOMP- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Electrical \Vinding Devices for Clock-Movements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically operated winding device for clock movements.

The object of the invention is to provide a winding mechanism for clock movements which is actuated by applying the current of an ordinary flash battery or other source, to a simple arrangement of magnets.

A further object is to provide means whereby the main spring is so arranged that a retaining sleeve, to serve as a guide for the spring with the attendant friction of the spring coils thereon, is eliminated, thereby producing uniform tension.

A further object of the invention is to provide means which are simple and efficient for transmitting the power from the magnets to the main wheel of the clock.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be .more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed opt in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings :F igure 1 is a view in elevation of a clock winding mechanism embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a View in central longitudinal section on the line 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a View in elevation, parts broken away, showing the arrangement of the impulse arm and the contact pin on the main wheel of the clock mechanism for completing the electrical circuit to accomplish the winding action of the spring. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the reverse side of the main wheel showing means for transmitting the power stored in the spring to the center wheel of the clock mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the impulse arm showing the operation of said arm on the main wheel when power is applied to said arm. Fig. 6 is a broken diagrammatic detail showing the relation of the impulse armature and the magnet pole pieces. Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation, parts broken off, showing a slightly modified construction embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8, 8, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9, 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10, 10, Fig. 7.

The same reference numeral designates the same part wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In clock winding mechanisms employing the power of a coiled main spring, the friction of the coils of the spring on the sleeve which acts as a guide for the spring is a serious detriment as it causes great variation in the power exerted by the spring on the train of the clock mechanism. Also the method of transmitting power from the magnet to the main wheel as heretofore employed, is very inefficient as the'ordinary bell type of magnet and armature which is commonly employed allows the power to be applied through a very short are and also because the pull of the magnet on the armature is very weak when in its initial position, and is obliged to start its motion under full load and to overcome the inertia of the main while its pull is very weak.

My present invention is especially designed to overcome these difliculties and to render the winding mechanism more efiicient by reason of the fact that in my construction I propose to employ an arrangement wherein the spring coils do not touch any thing, not even each other, thus giving a uniform tension which is impossible on other devices of this nature as heretofore constructed. Also in accordance with my invention, the power of the magnet is applied to an armature rotating between the magnet poles. This applies power through a much longer are than is commonly used. Also in former types of apparatus of this nature the magnet pole arcs and impulse armatures' are concentric. This produces a very strong pull just as the corner of the armature passes the corner of the magnet pole, but the pull decreases rapidly as the center of the armature arc approaches the center of the magnet pole are, so that only a small part of the impulse motion is accomplished by a strong pull. In accordance with my invention, I use a magnet, the arcs of whose poles and of the armatures are eccentric to each other so that there is an air gap between the entering side of the armature and magnet pole which is comparatively wide and which gradually becomes narrower as the center of the arn'iaturo arc approaches the center of the magnet polo are. This results in a strong and nearly uniform pull through the entire a re of motion of thearmature. While this increased and unequal air gap produced by pole faces non-concentric with the armature faces weakens the pull at the beginning of the motion, this same unequal gap will cause the pull to be much stronger than usual toward the completion of the stroke, and, properly proportioned, will cause a substantially uniform pull throughout the entire stroke to the point of breaking the contact of the energizing circuit, thus giving an cfiicient means of applying power to a driving spring.

111 carrying out my invention I employ two magnetic coils 1 and 2. These coils may be, and in one type of construction of my invention are, preferably compound wound, or may have a layer of fine German silver wire on the core of each coil which is connected in multiple with the coil terminals and which thus acts as a condenser to absorb the spark caused when the circuit contact is broken. I

The current is supplied to the magnets 1 and 2 from any suitable battery or other source, and enters coil 1, then passes through coil 2. One side of the circuit connects at a terminal with a spring 3 which is insulated from the frame as shown. The other side is grounded through the frame. The spring 3 which is insulated from the clock frame, as shown, conducts the current to an arm 4 which is securely fastened to an arbor 5, journaled at one end in the member 6, and at the other end in the clock frame by means of a fiber bushing 7 which also serves to insulate the arm 4 from the arbor 5. Also secured to arbor 5 is the armature 8 which revolves between the magnet pole pieces 9, of the coils 1 and 2. The main wheel 15 of the winding device is provided with a contact pin 10, and the arm 4 is provided with a cooperating contact spring 11. The member 6 is provided with a stop 12 which limits the revolving motion of the armature 8 in one direction. The armature has its ends curved and is received between the opposed curved surfaces of the magnet pole pieces 9. The end surfaces of the armature and the opposed surfaces of the pole pieces are curved to eccentric arcs, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. v

The collet of the main spring 13, is pressed onto the arbor 14 mounted in the frame of the clock mechanism as is also the main wheel 15. Attached to the main wheel 15 is a awl 16 which on s with a ratchet whee 17 loosely mounte on arbor 14. A power retainin spring 18 is also loosely mounted or coi ed on arbor 14 between the ratchet wheel and a loosely mounted pinion 19 and one end of said spring is secured to ratchet wheel .u and the other end suitably engages the pinion 19 as indicated at 20. The wind oi the spring 18 accomplished by the pull of spring 13 is retained by a stop pawl 21 which is mounted on the clock frame at 22 and which engages also with ratchet wheel 17. The pinion 19 meshes with and drives the'center wheel 23 of the clock movement.

The operation of the device is as follows: \Vhen the main spring 13 attached to the main wheel 15 begins to unwind, the main wheel turns back toward the initial position of the arm 4 which is the position shown in Fig. 3, resting against an insulation 9 stop 24. The contact pin 10 engages with the spring 11 on the arm 4. This completes the circuit through the magnet coils 1 and 2 and the magnetic flux in the magnet poles 9 causes the armature 8 and the arm 4 to rotate rapidly until the armature is forcibly stopped in its rotating movement by the stop 12 on the member 6. This action, by means of the impulse arm 4 engaging with contact pin 10 overcomes the inertia of the backward movement of the main wheel and causes the main wheel 15 to rotate in the opposite direction thereby winding up the spring 13. The inertia of the main wheel 13 now carries the pin 10 quite a distance beyond the point where the impulse arm 4 is stopped by the stop 12 thereby causing an instantaneous break in the electric circuit, and when this break occurs, the impulse arm is returned to its initial position by means of the spring 3. As the spring 13 is wound up, power is transmitted to the spring 18 to wind up the latter, and this power is stored up to actuate the center wheel of the clock movement. To accomplish this, the pawl 16 engages the ratchet wheel 17 which is on the arbor 14. This causes the spring 18 to wind up and to apply tension to the pinion 19 to turn the center wheel of the clock movement. The tension on the spring 18 is retained by the stop pawl 21 which engages and retains the ratchet wheel 17 while main wheel 15-carrying pawl 16 turns back and takes a new hold on the ratchet wheel 17.

In case dust, oxid coating, or other foreign matter, should prevent the circuit from being completed as soon as the pin 10 engages the spring 11, the continued reverse movement of the main wheel 15 under the influence of the tension of spring 13 will cause the pin 10 to wipe along the surface of spring 11, thereby assuring eventuall the elimination of the obstruction to a electric contact. But should this wiping movement fail in this respect the pin 10 W11] eventually come in contact with arm 4, thereby absolutely muring the desired electrical contact.

It will be observed that the spring 3 serves the double function of a circuit terminal and also to return the lever 4 and armature 8 to initial position. It will also be seen that an inclosing or guide sleeve for the spr ng 13 is unnecessary and the coils of said spring are therefore entirely free from contact with any stationary surface in addition to being free from contact with each other.

In Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, I have shown a slightly modified arrangement wherein the coil spring 18 of the construction ShOWII III Figs. 1 to 6 is dispensed with, thereby avoiding irregularities due to the use of a coiled spring for accomplishing the desired function. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 to 10, instead of j ournaling the ratchet wheel 17, on the arbor 14, said ratchet wheel is pressed upon the hub of a collar 30, which, in turn, is loosely mounted on said arbor. This collar is provided with a perlpheral groove into which is sprung a spring 31. One end of this spring is arranged to bear against a pin 32 on the ratchet wheel 17. The other end of said spring bears in the opposite direction against the laterally bent end 33, of an arm formed on a ring 34, fixed upon a hub extension 35, of the drive pinion 36 from which the center gear pinion 23, of the clock train is driven. With this arrangement it will be seen that when the rotative impulse is imparted to the main wheel 15, by the completion of the circuit of the magnets, as above explained, any momentary release of the driving tension on pinion 36, due to the winding up of the main spring is compensated for by the stored up tension in the spring 31, and therefore a constantly applied rotative tension is imposed on the pinion 36, during the winding up operations of the main spring. This construction is not only efficient for the purpose but it is simple, strong, durable, economical to manufacture and easy to assemble.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electricallyoperated winding de vice for clocks, and in combination with the clock movements, main wheel and main spring, of a pin carried by the main wheel, an impulse arm, electro-magnets, means operated thereby to move said arm, a flexible contact spring connected at one end to said arm, and bent relative thereto for the free end thereof to extend toward said arm in a direction to intersect the arc of movement of the pin as the main wheel rotates in one direction, and to be engaged by said pin in a wiping contact as the pin approaches the impulse arm, said arm and pin being included in the circuit of said magnets, whereby said circuit is completed to cause the impulse arm to move toward and to engage the pin to impart a rotative impulse to the main wheel in opposition to the action of the main spring and means to restore the impulse arm to its initial or retracted position.

2. In an electrically operated winding device for clocks, and in combination with the clock movement, main wheel and main spring, of a pin carried by the main wheel an impulse arm, an armature connected thereto, electro-magnets to move said armature, a flexible contact spring connected to said arm, and positioned relative thereto to cause the free end thereof to extend toward the arm from a point in advance of the operating edge of said arm and in a direction inclined to and to intersect the are of movement of the pin as the main wheel rotates in one direction, and to be engaged by said pin in a wiping contact as it moves there along to approach said impulse arm, said arm and pin being included in the circuit of said magnets, whereby completion of said circuit is insured before the pin reaches the arm, thereby causing the arm to advance toward the pin to engage the same and therethrough to impart a rotative impulse to the main wheel in opposition to the action of the main spring, thereby breaking said circuit, and means to restore the impulse arm to its initial or retracted position.

3. In an electrically operated winding device for clocks, and in combination with the clock movement, main wheel' and main spring, of a pin carried by the main wheel, an impulse arm, an armature connected thereto, electro-magnets to move said armature, a flexible contact spring connected at one end to the forward or working edge of said arm and deflected therefrom to permit its free end to extend toward the working edge of said arm and in a direction to intersect the arc of movement of said pin as the main Wheel rotates under the influence of the main spring, said spring and arm being included in the circuit of said magnets, the contact of said spring and pin operating to complete said circuit to cause the arm to advance toward said pin and to engage the same, and therethrough to impart a rotative impulse to the main wheel against the action of the main spring, the impulse arm and pin moving in intersecting arcs whereby in its impulse movement the arm moves past sair' pin and in a constantly changing point 01 contact therewith, the said circuit being broken between the arm and pin when these members separate in the impulse movements thereof, and at a point on the arm and pin removed from the initial contacts thereof.

4. In an electrically operated winding device for clocks, and in combination with the clock movement, main wheel and main spring, of a pin carried by the main wheel, a pivotally mounted impulse arm having its free end arranged to engage said pin to impart a rotative impulse to the main wheel against the action of the main spring when said arm is rocked, an armature connected to said arm, electro-magnets between the poles 5 of which said armature operates, said arm and pin being included in the circuit of said magnets, a flexible contact spring carried by said arm and having its free end deflected to extend across the path of the pin when 10 moved by the main spring, and toward that edge of said arm which engages the pin, the axes of said arm and main wheel being out of line with each other, the contact of the pin and flexible spring operating to close 1 the magnet circuit to actuate said armature thereby locking the free end of the arm toward the pin to engage the latter, the continued forward rocking movement of said arm causing a shifting of the point of contact of said arm and pin till the latter leaves 20 the arm and breaks said circuit, and a spring engaging said arm to restore the latter to initial position.

In testimon whereof I have hereunto set my hand in t e presence of the subscribing 25 witnesses, on this 6th day of January, A. D. 1914.

EDWARD M. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

G. A. MCGBATH, W. A. DARBY. 

